When surfing online through the seemingly endless amount of hair-loss products, very rarely do you come across a conversation with the medical doctors (if any) behind the product. After listening to the Shapiro MD users, we invite you to a personal FAQ with the Dr. Borenstein and Dr. Shapiro, the two co-creators behind the Shapiro MD Hair Solution.

How long have you been practicing dermatology, and treating hair-loss specifically?

“I have been a Board Certified Dermatologist for 25 years. I’ve been treating hair loss since the beginning of my training in Dermatology, about 28 years ago.”

What is the most common complaint you get from men suffering from hair-loss?

“The most common complaint from men is that their front hair-line is receding. They notice this first in the mirror, before thinning or balding on the crown sets in.”

What is the most common complaint you get from women suffering from hair-loss?

“Women typically complain that the hair on top of their head is thinner (“it’s not as thick as it used to be”).”

Twenty years ago, how were you treating hair-loss?

“20 years ago we had Rogaine to treat topically, even though the mechanism of action was not understood. Also, Rogaine was most likely to maintain someone’s hair rather than regrow their hair. Surgically, I also did split graft and individual hair transplants, but I was frustrated with both.”

How is that different today?

“Today we have topical treatment with DHT blockers in the Shapiro MD products (which also includes stimulation of dermal papillae cells, the stem cells of hair follicles); Rogaine in a higher concentration; oral Propecia; and individual hair transplants.”

What portion of your eligible patients opt for implants/plugs, and what’s the price?

“This is pretty low. Only about 15 to 20% of patients experiencing hair loss are eligible for hair transplants because they need good donors, good baseline health, a history of good healing, and they need to have totally failed on newer oral and topical treatments.”

What about treating with prescription products?

“Oral Propecia and topical Rogaine are the common prescriptions used, but neither is without side effects – and significant expense. Expense is one hurdle, but the side effects are more concerning to me as a clinician.”

And what about laser caps?

“About 45% of patients using Laser Caps are happy with the results. This is significant, but it’s not good enough for the people who spend the money without benefit.”

What made you want to create a shampoo and conditioner?

“When reading about the oral use of naturally occurring products showing clinical signs of DHT blocking, I became interested in using these natural occurring ingredients topically to fill the wide open void we have in the “trenches” of our dermatology practice where we had nothing over the counter that was effective with a known mechanism of action to fight hair loss in men and women after menopause.”

How did you go about that?

“I started to research naturally occurring products that showed clinical signs of blocking DHT. Since that time, we have developed three naturally occurring DHT blocking products that secondarily stimulate the stem cells of hair follicles, formulated in a shampoo, conditioner, and now a leave-in foam. We’ve filed for and received two patents on these formulations.”

Did you pass on any other ingredients, and why?

“We passed on many weak DHT blockers that just were not strong enough to give a clinical benefit (improve hair), although they have had other uses not related to hair loss. Ketoconazole, for instance, is used for fungus and seborrheic dermatitis. We had clinical experience with Ketoconazole shampoo both over the counter and in a prescription form for fungus, yeast, and Seborrheic dermatitis. But it really didn’t do much for making hair fuller or thicker.”

How did you introduce the shampoo/conditioner in your clinic, and what was uptake like?

“We launched these products through our office and within a short period of time received very positive feedback. For example, our patients’ hair stylists would notice their fuller hair, and they actually began recommending that their other clients contact us. Our patients’ co-workers would notice a difference and contact us as well. We did zero advertising but noticed each month that we had higher demand just by word of mouth. That was a great sign that this could fill a perfect role as a front-line, simple solution for most people.”

Who is the right candidate for the Shapiro MD shampoo and conditioner?

“We originally invented these products for young men to reduce hair loss; however, we quickly noticed that all men with reasonable activity in their hair follicles can benefit. Along the way, we also noticed that women did well as their hormonal profile starts to reflect men’s after menopause.”

If you really want to know if our DHT-blocking formula is right for you, take our quiz below to get started.